2 men arrested for allegedly carjacking good Samaritan who helped them

Two men from Kankakee, IL have been charged with armed robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle after police say that they carjacked a good Samaritan who tried to help them after their car rolled over on I-57.

Police say that 28 year old James A. Tallent, and 27 year old William C. Blunt, two men from Kankakee, were involved in a rollover crash on I-57, near 139th Street at about 4:30AM yesterday.  A good Samaritan saw the rolled over vehicle, and stopped his 2000 Lexus SUV to try and help.  Tallent and Blunt then allegedly threw the good Samaritan to the ground and stole his vehicle.  Police reportedly found the stolen Lexus near Blunt's home, where one of the men was arrested.  The other man was arrested shortly thereafter in a nearby apartment building.

Police also say that about half an hour before the rollover crash and carjacking, one or possibly both of the suspects was involved in the robbery of the Bradley, Illinois BP Fast and Fresh gas station.  In that robbery, one man is said to have entered the gas station, armed with a black handgun, and demanded "all" the money.  The man then pistol whipped an employee, and ordered him into the cooler, before stealing cash, beer, and other items, according to police.

It is a sad state of affairs when a man who kindly stops to help victims of a rollover crash ends up being carjacked by the very people he was trying to help.  Unfortunately, this is the world in which we live, and for that reason it might be more prudent to call the police and report the crash, rather than trying to personally help.  I know that idea won't sit well with many altruistic people, of course, so I suppose that each of us will just have to decide how much risk we're willing to take in the pursuit of helping others.